Separatist leader Yasin Malik was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir police from his residence in Srinagar on Friday night. He was shifted to the Kothibagh police station. The detention came two days after the state administration said the security of 18 separatist leaders, including Malik, would be withdrawn. The JKLF leader on Thursday termed the announcement a "lie".

While Malik said he had never received any protection from the state, hardline Hurriyat Conference termed the reports about the withdrawal of security of its chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani "ridiculous".